July 29, 2011

Tools for Schools kicks off on Saturday

> Posted by Anna Beach on July 29, 2011 06:54 PM

Just a reminder that the Tools for Schools kick-off takes place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at the McDonald’s on 300 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

We wrote about the schools supply drive to help Broward Education Foundation’s Kids In Need Resource Center here

So come and check out the bins decorated by student artists, say hi to former NFL star Errict Rhett -- who’ll be there from 11 to 11:30 a.m. -- and don’t forget to collect a McDonald’s coupon if you donate new school supplies.

As promised, here are some photos of the winning art work that will decorate the collection bins and a list of the locations where the bins will be placed

Florida Department of Education's YouTube channel

> Posted by Anna Beach on July 29, 2011 04:13 PM

The Florida Department of Education has launched an education-centered YouTube channel.

It features “a variety of content intended for a wide range of audiences.’’ Some videos update the ongoing changes to the state's education system while others offer tips for teachers and parents. There’s even a rap video about reading performed by at-risk youth.

Douchy colleges are places where fashions are frumpy and behaviors are boorish, according to the authors of the new book, “The Rogers & Littleton Guide to America’s Douchiest Colleges."

At UF many students make questionable fashion choices such as “cutoff camo shorts; pristine all-white Nike Air Force 1's with ankle socks poking out just so; [and a] Tim Tebow jersey only partly concealing the rip tattoo for your homey on the upper biceps,” according to an article in GQ magazine.

The guide also alleges that students like to spend their time tanning, watching football games, getting plastered and skipping classes.

I would assume UF officials would disagree with these assertions in the book, but I haven’t heard back from them yet. I’ll update you when I do.

I also don’t know whether the authors are actually Florida State fans, but it should be noted UF only placed at No. 10, meaning they find nine other schools douchier.

Other schools include Brigham Young, Pepperdine, Penn State, Yale, and the one ranked as douchiest of them all, Cornell University. The guide says that Cornell students spend a lot of time being angry over the cold, upstate New York winters, as well as their efforts to pursue an Ivy League degree from a school that “lots of people don't even realize is Ivy League.”

Before you start deluging my inbox with angry e-mails, please remember I didn’t write the list, and I don’t agree with it. I’m only reporting it.

July 26, 2011

Boca High students speak out about cell phone searches

> Posted by Marc Freeman on July 26, 2011 04:20 PM

Former and current Boca Raton High students are speaking out today about their experiences with the school’s practice of searching confiscated cell phones.

Their statements come one day after the National Youth Rights Association of Washington, D.C., released a letter sent to Principal Geoff McKee regarding their concerns.

My article in today’s newspaper cites the civil-rights group’s objections to the searches and the school’s history of disciplining students who don't provide access to their text messages or other content. The organization wants McKee to stop the searches and remove warnings from the student handbook.

While agreeing the high school has right to seize student phones that are viewed as "disruptive and distracting to learning," association President Jeffrey Nadel insists administrators don’t have “reasonable grounds for delving further into the cell phone in an ostensible attempt to obtain further evidence.”

McKee says he will consult with school district attorneys about the request. He said the school has an interest in stopping inappropriate uses of the devices.

Recent graduate Amanda Efron said she was doing nothing wrong before her phone was seized and searched: "I was checking the time on my phone in class and got it taken away by my teacher. I told her what I was doing but she didn't listen, and she made me bring it down to my dean. My dean then asked for my passcode and searched through my phone, including my texts. She then took it for 3 days straight and the rule is that a parent has to pick it up after."

Brittany Van Wagner was expelled over the issue. She was a student from outside the school’s boundary attending the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Program. Here’s her statement: "The school searched through one of my classmate's phones, and they found text messages that they thought were about drug activity. Administrators then targeted all the people who had sent texts to this student. They came to me and searched my phone. They went through everything! They went through my pictures, text messages, everything! Then they searched through my backpack; I didn't understand how they were allowed to do that. Because of one text message, I was expelled from that school."

Finally, incoming senior Taylor Thomson, described her experiences and praised the action by the youth rights folks: "Last year they seized the phone of a friend I drive to school, under the suspicion that he smoked marijuana before school. Through his phone, they found me as the ride to school and six other people they assumed to be 'under the influence'. While the six other students were suspended for admitting they were high, the school lied to me, saying they could get the Boca PD to search my car (which was parked off campus) because I wouldn't let the school search it. Having nothing to hide, I took an administrator across the street to my car where he got into it and began the search. Rules say he had no right unless my car was on campus already. The administrator found no grounds for suspension so I returned the next day, only to get called into the office and told I was being suspended for essentially 'Guilt By Association'. Although I never received the proper paperwork to be signed or a school document explaining my suspension, I still had to serve the time and have since been railroaded by the school. I even took a drug test for the school to prove my innocence. Dr. McKee called the office where I took the test and asked just general questions about drug test, which he then used to reject my drug test and continue my suspension. My parents and I discussed it with the school board (who took the principal's side) and lawyers but your effort to forbid the search of cell phones is truly the first step to fixing Boca High's administration's abuse. I would like the administration to realize and admit their mistakes."

Is this an issue at other schools? Are student cell phone searches happening daily on campuses in South Florida?

UPDATED: Kaplan Higher Ed settles lawsuit, government investigations

> Posted by Scott Travis on July 26, 2011 01:31 PM

It looks like some of the investigations and lawsuits surrounding Kaplan University and its parent company are starting to get resolved.

Kaplan Higher Education, which has a large administrative presence in Fort Lauderdale, has agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit and two investigations involving the Kaplan-owned CHI Institute in Broomall, Penn.

The Pennsylvania lawsuit was filed in 2007 by David Goodstein, the former director of education at the Broomall campus. He alleged that CHI made false representations to students and to the government about a surgical technology program. Kaplan enrolled new students in the program, despite an inability to place them in surgical settings, the lawsuit alleged.

This led to investigations from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania and a program review by the U.S. Department of Education.

Under the terms of the settlement, Kaplan will pay $1.1 million to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with $225,00 going to the plaintiff in the suit.

Kaplan will also pay $473,000 to the U.S. Department of Education.

Kaplan, which quit enrolling students in the program in 2008, said the U.S. government intervened “solely for the purpose to resolve and dismiss the case,” according to a company statement. “The agreement does not include any admission of wrongdoing.”

But Goodstein said he’s pleased with the outcome.

“I hope that lawsuits such as this one will not only help to change the behavior of proprietary institutions such as Kaplan, but lead to a greater awareness of the public, and especially the potential consumers, of the risks presented by many of these programs,” he said.

There are still several other outstanding lawsuits involving Kaplan, and the company is the subject of an investigation from the attorneys general in Florida, Massachusetts and Illinois. At least seven other attorneys general are investigating the for-profit sector, but haven't named Kaplan as part of their probe.

Negotiations resume between Broward Schools and teachers union

> Posted by Cara Fitzpatrick on July 26, 2011 12:57 PM

Nearly three months after the Broward School District declared impasse in its tense salary negotiations with the teachers union, the two sides have agreed to give it another shot.

Negotiators for both sides plan to meet Aug. 4. They also have pushed back a tentative impasse hearing until Aug. 26.

Neither side has said what prompted the change of heart. But it comes nearly a month after former Superintendent Jim Notter retired. Notter was no friend of Pat Santeramo, president of the Broward Teachers Union. (Notter called his relationship with the teachers union his greatest failure as superintendent.)

Both sides also have appointed new chief negotiators. Interim Superintendent Donnie Carter told the Sun Sentinel last month that he was committed to making progress in the negotiations.

Santeramo said Tuesday that he's still willing to work it out with the district.

"We have an opportunity once again to try to resolve our differences," he said.

The two sides certainly have incentive.

There's about $30 million in federal Race to the Top money hanging in the balance. If the teachers union doesn't agree to the district's merit pay plan (which was approved by the state) then Broward won't get the money. They have until Sept. 30.

Summer snapshots - sun, sand and sweat

> Posted by Anna Beach on July 25, 2011 01:34 PM

How did you spend your summer vacation?

Probably not shoveling cement - like these Miami students who went to the Dominican Republic for 10 days.
To build a bridge.

The 93-person contingent on the mission trip to Pescado Bobo included 72 male students ages 16 to 18: 51 from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and 21 girls from Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.

About ten days of sweat equity (donated) and $40,000 also covered by donations ... and the job got done.

July 21, 2011

Local scholarship winners

> Posted by Anna Beach on July 21, 2011 04:46 PM

Three of the ten scholarships awarded nationally by Watson Pharmaceuticals have gone to local students.

The winners are:
American Heritage School graduate Joel Haines of Weston, who will study Biochemistry and Finance at the University of Florida this fall.
College Academy at Broward College graduate Alina Khan of Pembroke Pines, who will study Pharmacy at Nova Southeastern University and
Cooper City High School graduate Roshelle Wijeratne, who has just completed her freshman year at the University of Florida where she is studying Mechanical Engineering.

The $5,000 Dr. Allen Chao Scholarship recognizes dependents of Watson employees who demonstrate exemplary academic achievements, demonstrated character and leadership skills, and extracurricular involvement.
New-Jersey-based Watson has two facilities in Weston and one in Davie.

July 20, 2011

UPDATED: Broward school district revises transcripts

> Posted by Scott Travis on July 20, 2011 05:04 PM

In most places, a high school transcript means just that, a record of your grades and test scores in high school. In the Broward County School District, it’s more like a lifetime achievement certificate.

The transcripts, used by colleges for admissions decisions, include student information dating back to kindergarten, or whenever the child first entered the school district.

If you don’t like that practice, there’s good news. For once, budget cuts have worked in your favor.

The district is revising its transcripts for the 2011-12 school year, so that only includes a student's high school performance.

“It will be less expensive to print and mail the new transcript,” district spokeswoman Marsy Smith said.

Complaints from parents may have also contributed. Joanne McShane complained to administrators at West Broward High in Pembroke Pines, where her son attends, and to district officials and state officials.

“There are kids who probably did very poorly in middle school, and they think if they do stellar work in high school, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “They think colleges only get their high school grades.”

She said the extended transcripts could hurt students’ chances of getting into selective schools or receiving athletic and other scholarships.

School district officials said the information from elementary school contains only attendance and demographic information, not school grades or FCAT scores, and colleges disregard the information. The transcript is more complete for middle school.

So do colleges even care how well a child does in middle school, and could that make a difference in admissions decisions?

It’s not a factor at the University of Florida, the state’s most selective school. Some students take high school-level algebra or foreign language classes, and the school may look at that. But any other middle school or elementary school work would be ignored, officials said.

Students can leave "failing" schools in Broward, Palm Beach

> Posted by Cara Fitzpatrick on July 20, 2011 02:16 PM

With an expansion this year in one of the state's school choice programs, students now can transfer out of more low-performing public schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

In Broward, students can opt out of a dozen schools, half of them high schools, for higher-performing campuses. In Palm Beach County, they can leave eight schools, four of which are high schools.

This year, the state expanded its definition of a "failing school" to include schools that have earned a D or an F for two of four years in the state's school grading system and failed other accountability measures. (Learn about the Opportunity Scholarships program here.)

Last year, only schools earning an F for two of four years qualified. Statewide, there were just 24 schools. With the new definition, there now are about 159 schools statewide.

In Broward and Palm Beach counties, the schools include these:

Broward:
Blanche Ely High School
Hallandale High School
Lauderdale Manors Elementary
Sunland Park Elementary
Plantation Elementary
Lauderhill Middle School
Hollywood Hills High School
Coconut Creek High School
Boyd H. Anderson High School
Royal Palm Elementary
Piper High School
Arthur Robert Ashe Junior Middle School

Palm Beach County:
Galaxy Elementary
West Riviera Elementary
Pahokee Middle-Senior High School
K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary
Palm Beach Lakes High School
Glades Central High School
Boynton Beach Community High School
Belle Glade Elementary

School grades are based on students' performance on the FCAT for elementary and middle schools. High schools grades include other measures, such as graduation rates. But, because students need to have time to opt out, the state included those high schools that would earn a D or an F if the grades were based only on FCAT scores.

Students have for years had the option of leaving failing schools under the federal No Child Left Behind act, which also focuses on low-performing schools.

FIU president fights for Pell Grants

> Posted by Scott Travis on July 20, 2011 11:31 AM

In this time of federal budget cutting, it seems like everything is on the table, including student financial aid. The $30 billion Pell Grant program could face as much as $9 billion in cuts.

But a number of college presidents are fighting against that, including Mark Rosenberg of Florida International University.

Rosenberg was one of eight presidents from around the country who spoke out against cuts at a Tuesday meeting of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.

FIU officials say Pell Grants are vital for Hispanic and black students, who often come from low-income families, making the program key to improving their chances of graduating.

Pell grant cuts “would reduce the capability of needy students to go to college and stay in college, and that’s not in our interest,” Rosenberg said.

Other speakers included the presidents of the University of Maryland, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Georgia State University, California State University-Fresno and the University of Missouri.

July 15, 2011

Education commissioner to discuss Hispanic student achievement

> Posted by Anna Beach on July 15, 2011 11:20 AM

Florida’s new education commissioner Gerard Robinson is in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, July 15.

He’s a panelist at a town hall meeting presented at the Coalition to Ensure Educational Opportunities for Hispanic Children to Succeed, an event sponsored by Lake Worth-based Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options.

Fellow panelists include Michelle Rhee, StudentsFirst founder and former D.C. schools Chancellor, State Sen. Anitere Flores and Sergio Rodriguez, president of Hispanic Elected Local Officials.

The town hall meeting is open to the public and takes place 3 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, 2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale.

Hispanic CREO, which seeks to inform Hispanic families about school choice, is a national public policy Hispanic organization dedicated solely to K-12 education reform. For more information go to http://www.hcreo.com/

July 14, 2011

Palm Beach County schools needs oversight of new tax dollars

> Posted by Marc Freeman on July 14, 2011 12:58 PM

Remember the special property tax Palm Beach County voters overwhelmingly supported last year for public schools? It officially started July 1, and is expected to provide $31.7 million for teacher salaries in the 2011-12 school year.

The referendum requires that “an independent finance committee of citizens and experts” provide oversight to make sure the money is spent properly until the tax ends June 30, 2015.

Michael Burke, chief financial official for the school district, said the School Board needs to decide on the committee soon. So far, officials aren’t seeking volunteers.

It’s possible that an existing panel, such as the budget advisory committee, could assume this responsibility, he said. Here’s how the tax works:

The levy is 25 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value in the county. Based on the district’s property tax roll of $132.2 billion – and a 96 percent collection rate – the tax will provide $31.7 million.

District administrators say it will cost $34.6 million to pay for 540.5 teachers – 145 magnet program teachers and 395.5 elementary art, music and physical education teachers. These were the areas specified on the ballot question.

Since the tax proceeds fall a little short, the district will draw $2.8 million from its operating budget, Burke said.

By the way, for the owner of a $250,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption, this special levy comes to $56.25. School districts are not included in the additional $25,000 homestead exemption on Florida homes.

July 13, 2011

Is Miami Dade College warning a warning for other schools as well?

> Posted by Scott Travis on July 13, 2011 05:22 PM

We’ve seen a lot of cuts to higher education in Florida in recent years, and the country’s largest college may be paying a price for it.

Miami Dade College has been warned from its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, that it doesn’t have enough full-time faculty to carry out its mission, thus putting its accreditation in jeopardy. Check out my story here. It’s rare for a school to lose accreditation, but if it does, the consequences are dire. A school can’t received federal financial aid money, and most other schools won’t accept credits from an unaccredited institution.

This will be an important issue to watch over the next year to see if this is an isolated instance of a school that may have grown beyond its capacity, or whether it’s an ominous sign for other community colleges and public universities in the state. All have faced similar budget cuts and all are accredited by the same body.

The best case scenario for Miami Dade College would be if is a merely a data reporting problem, in which the school is meeting its mission, but just failed to clearly explain that to the Southern Association. The school will submit an updated report to the accrediting body this fall.

July 12, 2011

Art Johnson: The Boca Raton magazine interview

> Posted by Marc Freeman on July 12, 2011 03:59 PM

Former Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson, in an interview published in the July/August edition of Boca Raton magazine, calls the School Board “extremely foolish” for sending him away in February at a critical time for the school system.

The feature, by South Florida journalist Tom Collins, is titled Art Johnson Speaks Out: Inside the rise and fall of Palm Beach County’s most venerable educator. Copies of the magazine are available now on newsstands and online, www.bocamag.com.

It’s the first time Johnson has talked publicly since he reached a mutual separation agreement with the School Board and received a $428,000 severance package. The interview was conducted four weeks after Johnson’s last day as schools chief.

In the piece, Johnson, 66, discusses his long career, family life, and future plans, which, not surprisingly, include a high-profile role, possibly as a superintendent, board member or in higher education. He said it’s “not in my nature to sit on my laurels.”

Johnson’s most pointed words, however, are directed at the School Board:

"It’s not because of luck that we were A-rated for six consecutive years or that we had a balanced budget with a very high bond rating, and no layoffs. That took macro understanding of how it all fits,” Johnson said.

“So, it was extremely foolish to take someone out of a leadership position right before FCAT, right before you balance the budget, right before graduation, before your legislative session, and turn everything upside down. I mean that does not show much judgment. Maybe in the long run, the philosophical difference that the board and I had about who should run the system would have required them to do what they did. But their timing was very inappropriate, if they’re really interested in education,” he said.

The seven-member board, perhaps with the exception of Johnson fan Monroe Benaim, sounds happy it moved on.

The board has heaped praise on Johnson’s successor, Bill Malone, and encouraged Malone to stay an extra year while it finds a permanent superintendent.

July 11, 2011

UPDATED: Kaplan University whistleblower lawsuit dismissed

> Posted by Scott Travis on July 11, 2011 04:35 PM

Kaplan University has faced a string of lawsuits in recent years from stock holders and former employees who have complaints about the for-profit school.

But at least one lawsuit has been settled in Kaplan’s favor. A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that Charles Jadelski filed using whistleblower protection laws. Jajdelski worked at Heritage College in Las Vegas, which was bought by Kaplan. He claimed he was fired for investigating possible fraudulent use of federal financial aid dollars. But the judge said that Jadelski failed to provide the specifics needed to “to put Kaplan on notice of the particular misconduct which is alleged to constitute the fraud charged.”

“From the beginning, Kaplan has maintained that Mr. Jajdelski’s allegations were factually false and wholly without merit. Mr. Jajdelski was given several opportunities to state a claim against Kaplan, and each time, he failed to do so,” the company said in a statement. “ Kaplan respects the Court’s decision to close the case by dismissing Mr. Jajdelski’s lawsuit and entering final judgment in favor of Kaplan.”

Michael J. Aguirre, a San Diego lawyer representing the Jajdelski, said he plans to appeal to the 9th Circuit Court. He said judge’s order wasn’t specific about what proof his client was lacking.

He said false claims, or whistleblower cases, “are falling victim to the overall indifference or hostility of the federal court to fraud cases.

“We’re living in one of the most pervasive areas of fraud in the history of our country,” Aguirre said, “and the court is finding every kind of technical excuse not to hear it.”

Kaplan, which is owned by the Washington Post Corp. and has a large administrative presence in Fort Lauderdale, is one of eight for-profit schools being investigated by Florida’s Attorney General for alleged misrepresentations in areas such as recruiting, enrollment and financial aid.

Trash to treasure trove for teachers

> Posted by Anna Beach on July 11, 2011 02:47 PM

Cardboard tubes, plastic ring binders, coat hangers, VHS tape and bottle caps….
Do you see them as trash - or the stuff of dioramas, science projects and artistic enterprise?

The Trash to Treasure Creative Re-use Center, a Fort Lauderdale not-for profit organization, not only collects and recycles such “diverse materials” it holds workshops for educators and artists on how to creatively use them.

As well as the art and school supplies warehouse, billed as the “greenest and cheapest art store in South Florida”, there’s a lending library and demonstration garden. Check out their video!

The center also holds an annual Trash2Art competition and exhibition. David Fleshler writes about it here.

The Trash to Treasure Creative Re-use Center, is at 1100 NW 53 Street, Fort Lauderdale. For more information go to http://www.trash2treasurefl.org/

July 7, 2011

Will Miramar teacher be named state Teacher of the Year?

> Posted by Scott Travis on July 7, 2011 04:25 PM

A Miramar teacher will find out Thursday night if he’s the state’s Teacher of the Year.

Alvin Davis, 35, is one of five finalists in the running for the award, sponsored by Macy’s and the Florida Department of Education. The others are Lora McCalister-Cruel, a literacy coach at A. Crawford Mosley High in Lynn Haven; Belinda Nease, a special education teacher at Southside Elementary in Fernandina Beach; Stephanie Thetford, a math teacher at Fort Walton Beach High; and Tracy Staley, a science and writing teacher at Ponce de Leon Elementary in Clearwater.

The winner will receive $10,000 from the Macy’s Foundation and all-expenses paid trip for four to New York City to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The teacher will also serve as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for education, touring Florida as an education advocate.
It could be an extra-special day for Davis. He and his wife, Tiffani, are celebrating their 10th anniversary. They are in Orlando for the awards ceremony now with their 15-month-old daughter, Caitlyn.

So what’s the secret to Davis’s success?

“Just hard work. It’s never about me. It’s about the kids that we teach every day,” he said. “There’s no secret to success.”

Davis has taught music for 10 years. According to his bio, he focuses on three areas: academics, discipline and music. For the past three years, every student who was a regular participating member of the Miramar High band program has gone on to college, district officials said. He requires his students to receive one-on-one counseling with a member of the band staff, and he personally reviews students’ report cards and interim reports. Every school band rehearsal include a one-hour study hall where students are tutored.

Seniors can only perform if they have registered to take the ACT or SAT and must prove they have applied to a college or university.

“Inside Edition” anchor Deborah Norville, is scheduled to serve as master of ceremonies. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios, and you can watch a live stream here, starting at 6:25, with the ceremony ending about 8:30 or 9.

“Public schools sometimes get a bad reputation for graduating students with more street cred than academic prowess … But many public schools offer magnet programs, special advanced placement opportunities, and internationally respected teaching practices that prepare students for the country’s best universities.”

Principal Geoff McKee told me he hadn’t heard of the honor before I showed it to him.

“Not sure what their ranking system is, but we'll take it!” McKee said.

Here’s how the website described the high school: “South Florida’s Raton community is a notably exclusive and wealthy town, plus a sometime hangout for Mafia mobsters on vacation. But organized crime aside, certain Boca Raton schools governed by The School District of Palm Beach County are known as particularly posh given their zip codes. There is of course diversity in every school, and Boca Raton Community High School’s STEM magnet program attracts qualifying students from different neighborhoods, too.”

Boca Raton was the only high school in Florida to appear on the list. Does anybody know of other local high schools that deserve this posh ranking?